Things that are lovely but really not worth doing.

[OhWhatFuckeryIsThisNow]

I got a big bag of cheap limes. Just spent 2 hours making lime curd. I’m sticky, there’s sticky washing up and I’ve got a jar and a bit. It’s delicious but no better than prestige shop bought.
What else?

Barbeques when it's just the immediate family and no guests. Not worth lighting it just to burn meat for 3 people.

I’m a weirdo. I do most of the things on this thread and don’t find them that much faff.

Bread, definitely not worth it. Go to a good independent bakery and you're keeping them in business and saving yourself a load of work.

Disagree on steak - buy good quality and you can cook yourself a lovely steak at home! Plus you can sit down and eat while it's still rare. In a restaurant you always have the risk it's sitting around while other dishes from your table are finished off.

Another vote for Christmas!

@EatsShootsAndRuns

Ironing, full stop.

Pointless activity.

I could not agree more!

but home made bread is definitely worth it!

I have a friend who goes to great lengths to be ‘not a typical tourist’, which can be lovely and unusual but involves massive amounts of effort and getting lost, and you always still look exactly like a tourist.

I like a good open top bus tour!

I imagine this might be contentious but I made my own pasta once and I cannot think of a greater waste of time and energy.

I once made my own chicken Kiev, ie bought a chicken, cut it up and stuffed breasts with garlic and covered in breadcrumbs etc. Why?!

I love making Christmas stuffing and it's delicious although (before eating it!) DH and family said it was a waste of time as comes in packets

I do disagree about steak though, I prefer the ones we cook at home and only from Lidl! Just needs a really hot pan

Also, knitting.

Herb and ricotta stuffed zucchini flowers fried in olive oil.
Delicious, but fucking hell you've never seen mess like it.

Yes yes yes to ironing too. A complete waste of time unless it's a work shirt.

Samosas. All the faffing with the pastry to stop it drying out between wrapping each one and painting all the butter on between turns of the pastry. Just buying them in future.

Taking young children on country walks/outdoor activities. Cue whinging, tantrums, endless snacks and having to leave early. Dont believe the insta hype.

@DollyMixtureLulus - totally agree with you, but then I am a very slow knitter.
Once made a beautiful cream mohair type cardigan with an intricate lace/cable pattern. It took me about 6 months to finish. I wore it once, got it a bit grubby so I gently hand washed it in the warm tears of angels.

It dried to the size befitting a 6 year old.

Never again.

Not quite the same thing but this is what I thought of when I saw the title:

• live football. I used to love going, had a season ticket, lots of mates supporting the same team, pub before and after, great laugh. I had been toying with the idea of getting a season ticket again. I got that out of my system last year when I went to a match. It was hard work, uncomfortable, expensive etc
• ditto opera! We used to go fairly regularly and really enjoyed it. Last year a friend invited us to The Marriage of Figaro at the Royal Opera House, free tickets, what a treat! Bloody hell, I've never had to rush so much for a drink and the bog or been so uncomfortable and we had two spare seats next to us. My culture vulture days are over, I'll stick to sitting on my arse watching the telly from now on!
• and I hate cooking too, that's DH's job

Yes I agree bread is not worth it, you can get lovely loaves these days, and mash potatoes I think the ‘taste the difference’ ranges are just as nice as homemade.

Lasagne - what a faff!

Nice colourful planted gardens.

We bought a house with a beautiful garden only to discover how much maintenance it is and what goes into keeping it looking nice.

I'd rather have a plain turfed lawn now. So not worth all the hard work!

Mintycedric, agree 100%. The pasta maker lurked in the cupboard until I charity shopped it last year. What a bloomin' faff.

Steak is quite literally one of the easiest things to cook really well at home. Just need to take it out of the fridge at least an hour before and heat the pan first.

My homemade pizza dough is bloody sublime. So good I hardly ever make it, I've enough weight to lose already.

But I'm not sure I could ever be arsed to make jam, chutney, croissants, pasta or any of that stuff.

lemon meringue pie. ....so not worth the faff delicious as it was.

Baking with toddlers

Going away anywhere at all for 1 night with young dc. You may have a nice time but it takes a day to prepare and pack, and half a day on the other side to unpack and return everything to where it belongs. Either go for a week or not at all these days.

Homemade guacamole.

Such a faff. Just buy a pot.

Baking with toddlers
Picnics
Barbecues
Paddling pools
Growing courgettes